A mix of Unwind's scifi base and We Were Liars' intrigue, The Similars is more than it appears on the surface. The tale of Darkwood Academy's student body through the eyes of grieving Emmaline as they discover that six of their students have been illegally cloned, raised on a secluded island by a wealthy benefactor, and are joining them at school this year.

Emmaline is a relatable character for both male and female readers. She isn't "overly girly" in her actions or thoughts as to alienate a male audience. However, I would like to see book 2 with Levi and Emmaline alternating perspective. There's plenty of real world issues to this story to keep readers motivated. The end is one that will be discussed at length as readers find one another, and while it comes out of left field, it is well-established throughout the book to be feasible.

The "secret mission" aspect of the storytelling didn't really come together for me. Perhaps it was a lack of urgency behind the characters' actions...also the clones' apparent superpowers were almost a throwaway. We don't NEED them for a compelling story. However, they may come in handy during the second book, which I will definitely be reading because I HAVE to know what happens next.